Family Reunion and 4th of July weekend

                                              A few random pics... Seth helping mommy "dus."

  and he was due for another haircut, so this time Kyle set up the laptop with the movie "Cars" showing. It proved to be quite a successful time in the hair salon! 

On July 1st, my good friend Amy and her husband Jason slept over at our house b/c her cousin (who lives around here) was getting married the next day. I hadn't seen them since their wedding in Oct 2009, and unfortunately we didn't have much time to visit but it was great to see them for a short time. 

On July 2nd, we went about 2.5 hours to the area where Kyle's mom grew up and we had a reunion for her side of the family. It was held at a log cabin in the woods (and it was the same cabin where some of the filming for "Shawshank Redemption" was done.) We had a delicious catered, buffet- style meal, hiked to a cave and walked through it, and visited for the rest of the afternoon. We also gave Jenna a baby shower. It was a rustic setting and we didn't even know if it would be indoors or outdoors, so the decorations were lacking just a bit =)  side note:  this whole day I was waiting eagerly for some news about Heather's baby, but I didn't have reception in the woods, so I thought for sure Seija had been born hours ago, and I hadn't heard about it yet. Unfortunately for Heather, that wasn't the case, but we're so thankful for another healthy baby in the family and can't wait to meet her! happy birthday Seija! 

                                   This was Seth's face when I scared him as he came around a corner =)

                                                                       Mr. Patriotic

When we left the reunion, he had missed his nap altogether that day, so he was fast asleep within a few minutes of leaving. While he slept in the car, we went and visited a different relative and saw the property where Kyle's mom grew up.

The next day, the farmers were harvesting the wheat in the field behind our house. It was cool to see the combines and it brings back memories for Kyle of his dad's farm.

We went to see the fireworks in downtown Dayton (they set them off from a barge in the river), and they were excellent! Both years we've said how we can't believe that the Dayton fireworks are way better than the ones we saw in downtown Chicago 2 years ago! Below, Elli and Seth were having fun running down the hill before the show started.

                Lori's sister Heather and her husband Gary are in the middle (and a baby girl on the way!)

For the 4th, we went blueberry picking in the morning (and I forgot my camera,) and then went to Lori's sister Heather's pool (which is gorgeous!!) and had a cookout for lunch and stayed the rest of the day. I missed it last year b/c I was working, so it was fun to be there this year! This is Lori's younger sister Leah, her husband Matt, and their identical twin boys Wesley and Luka (maybe not in order??) I still can't tell them apart! They are so cute and chubby!

                               Elli does really well in the pool. She'll have to give Seth swimming lessons ;)

                                               Justin and Jenna... and little Dodson on the way!